St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-03-12
A RUSSIAN GHOST STORY.
FhelApparition which Appeared 10
the EMPRESS Elizabeth.

the Empress Elizabeth.
!. 1t Is wel-known fact that st. Peters
burg owes several of her most magnificent
editces to the Empress Elizabeth, daughter
of Peter the Great and Catherine the First.
She prevailed CountRastrelli, the first archl-
tect of the Eighteenth century, to come to
ST. Petersburg, and under his direction the
Winter palace. the Escurlal OF the North,
was built. About the same time Rastrelli
also built the Pagencops. formerly the Pal
ace Gernitschoff. a superb editice the inn
posing Palace StrOganoff and the Church of
the Smo'lna MONSIEUR constructed in
style as noble as it is beautiful. The Palace
BeloselSk, now called kotschubei. also
owes It's origin to Rastrelli. 1t was re-
stored and ornamented with balconies of
beautiful design by the Russian architect.
Stackenschmidt who had also erected nu-
merous palaces.
While the Winter palace was in process
of construction Elizabeth occupied small
palace-BOlschol- Merskol-situated on the
broad avenue bordering on the sea. The
building exists no longer. 1t once stood on
the Identical spOt-a fact which Is not
known even to all Petersburgians-w where
the Frenehman Jacot las now built his inn
mense house.
When the Winter palace was finished the
empress appointed day for taking posses
sion of it, and the elite of the guards, corps
which was composed entirely Of noblemen,
mounted guard in the new castle. A long,
dark corridor leads to the middle door of the
white or thr0ne-r0Om. In the corridor two
young nOblemen were posted. 1t was APP
preaching 10 O'Clock and the arrival of the
empress was momentarily expected. Sud-
denly the attention of the young men was
attracted by bright streak of light which
seemed to glide between them in the dark
passage. Their eyes followed the light and
they saw that it streamed through the key
hole of the throne. room. Who could have
any business at such an unusual hour in a
room which was designed only for the re-
ception of foreign ambassadors? One of
the young men considered it his duty to
| investigate the matter, and approached the
door for the purpose. but as soon as he had
glanced through the keyhole he called to
his comrade in a whisper to come nearer.
The empress has already arrived" whiS-
| pered he; she is seated on the throne di-
rectly opposite to the door,"
The other also looked through the apert-
ure and soon verified this to be fact. The
empress was seated in tranquil dignity on an
elevated golden stool under the red velvet
canopy richly adorned with the imperial
arms of Russia, the double eagle. The
room was brilliantly lightly; but it was
! impossible to ascertain if any other per-
SONS were present, and the thickness of the
doOr-lock allowed no Side-view of the
apartment. The yonng men returned to
their posts and waited. Not long after one
of the higher officers appeared and said:
''Y on can all now retire; the empress will
not come tonight"
But her majesty is already here"
''What? Who?"
Her majesty is in the throne room.''
''lmpOssible!"
You can see for yourself"
The officer looked, Immediately recog-
nized the empress and said wonderingly:
Il can't understand what the marshal
means. He has Just arrived and ordered
that all the guards be Withdrawn; the EN-
press has changed her mind and will not
arrive tonight. Nevertheless, [ See that
she is here Could she have come
secretlye At all events / will
ascertain what new orders the marshal
has issued. Meanwhile do you remain
here, the empress may pass this way"
The marshal. Prince Kuratin, was fortrl-
nately still in the palace. and as soon as he
heard of the mysterious report fastened to
the corridor and peeped in his turn through
the keyhole
''My God! 1t is the empress! her majesty
herself! What can it mean?" exclaimed
he. How can this be possible, when
have just left her presence? She was
| dressed in her usual everyday attire and
now / see her arrayed in all her royal robes
and jewels. There must be some mystery
behind this. Let all the entrances to the
throne-roOm be guarded! Let no one be
| allowed to go in or out! l will hasten to
report" The distance between the two
houses being quite short, the marshal soon
reached the small palace, temporarily occu-
| pied by the empress.
''Where is the empress?"
''In her sleeping apartment"
The prince looked at the lady of honor
with suspicion and said sharply:
Are you sure that the empress is here?"
"Cf course; she is preparing to retire
Uniform her instantly that l am here
| In few minutes Prince Kuratin, much
| excited, was conducted into the empress
chamber. The empress stood before him
| i'll night negligee.
Kuratin turned pale.
Well" said the empress. ''you look as
| if you had seen ghost. What in heavens
| name is the matter with you? Is there
any news from the armye"
| Kuratin hurrledly stated what he had
seen.
1t is knavish trick" cried Elizabeth
| I'VE will take nearer look at these come
dians. | will go in your sleigh, Kuratin;
! you can mount behind. HurfyE'
Arrived at the Winter palace the castel-
an was ordered to bring the key of the
throne room; six grenadierS We're COM
manded to load their guns, and led by the
empress the little troop betook themselves
| to the corridor. '..-
The light sh0ne as before through the
| keyhole. The door was cautiously opened
| and flood of light filled the corridor. The
| empress stepped within the room, followed
by her guards, who placed themselves
around her The room was brilliantly
! Illuminated. but empty. On the throne
was seated shape, the counterpart of
Elizabeth, arrayed in purple and ermine,
covered with diamonds and crowned with
| the royal diadem. One instant Elizabeth
gazed steadfastly at her double, then moved
forward few steps. simultaneously the
appariton stood up, stepped down from
the throne, and then remained standing as
| immovably still as the empress.
1t was thrilling moment.
"Fire!'' cried the empress
| The guards raised their guns, and all six
| aimed directly at the ghostly vsitant. The
| triggers snapped. AT the same instant the
| figure clapped its hands together, and the
| room was suddenly plunged into intense
| darkness. Then followed a great commo-
| ton and confusion, while the empress
| called:
| Bring lightsr'
| Lights were speedily produced and each
| corner was thoroughly searched. but abso-
lutely nothing could be found to elucidate
the mystery. Every door was locked and